Farewell to Robert Jordan, who died yesterday from the rare blood disease, amyloidosis. The local writer - real name James Rigney - made the big leagues with his Wheel of Time fantasy series. He was only 58 years old.
Jordan was an integral part of Charleston’s literary scene, instantly recognizable with his beard, hat and glasses. But he also valued his privacy, especially since the diagnosis of his progressive blood disorder in late 2005.
 The bestselling author sparked the imaginations of readers worldwide with books like The Eye of the World, The Dragon Reborn and original stories featuring Conan the Barbarian. An indication of his amazing popularity: fans offered their bone marrow to help him fight his disease. His ideas will live on through those fans in cyberspace, where countless sites propagate the mythos he created.
10 Comments
This is truly a sad day in the history of the fantasy genre. Robert’s contributions to the literary development of fantasy compare highly with those of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. He will truly be missed, and my thoughts and prayers go with him and his family.
We have lost the bard of our time. Godspeed, Robert.
SOB!!!
I’ve been waiting fifteen years for him to finish WOT and now he dies?
Now we’ll never know how the series ends.
I owe Jordan a debt of gratitude for seeing me through too many difficult times in my life to count, and I grieve at his passing. I hope he had a chance to see the letter I wrote him some months ago expressing my gratitude. My thoughts are with his family.
The first five books in the WOT time series were some of the best Sci-Fi / Fantasy that I have ever read. Books 6 - 10 were next to useless. Book 11 was starting to move things in the right direction. Now he is dead.
That’s just PERFECT!!! I wasted 15 years and who knows how many dollars on that series. I feel betrayed.
Yes, I am venting. We all grieve in our own way.
Robert Jordan shared his imagination and his love of adventure with the world. God bless him and keep him. As for those who whine because he was so thoughtless as to die before finishing his series: your egocentrics are showing.
I cant except that James O. Rigney JR. AKA Robert Jordan is gone. He was far too young to pass, and far too talented, to have left us this soon. My heart goes out to his family, people he has worked with, and all of the fans of his work.
He took me though a very difficult part of my life, with his words, work, and books.
Rest in Peace, and blessings for those left behind.
Whisper
Portland, ME
Ok.. I have seen some really moving sentiments and also some venting. It is truly sad, when anyone dies. Life is something you have only one of and for people to be “MAD” at him for dying is not particularly nice.
But I can understand the venters in a way. Before his death, for the past years I have waited and it has been frustrating. Part of it may be that he sold out a bit, because he wanted more money and so lengthened the series. We are allowed to feel betrayed for that. Surely he could have gotten the books written without some of what was in 6-10…
BUT remember people. This was a human being. You are allowed to be upset about the books not being finished. But don’t be upset at the man who is now in his grave… Let him rest…
He deserves at least that much….
I first learned of Mr. Jordan when I read “Eye Of The World” in paperback in 1990. I bought the next two volumes and was hooked. Reading his bio, I thought what an interesting man. I bought books 4 thru 11 in hardback as I could never wait for the paperback edition. I even bought his Conan books.
He was a talented writer…a talented story teller. I didn’t mind him stretching his series…too much…it gave us readers longer in that world he so carefully crafted.
I offer my prayers and condolences to his family and if they choose to complete his series, hopefully some of the proceeds will go to charity.
Jim Rigney’s passing is a tragic but, sadly, not entirely unexpected event for the Charleston community, for science fiction and fantasy fans everywhere, and for the many friends and admirers he leaves behind. I had the pleasure of meeting Jim on several occasions and of interviewing him for the City Paper once. He was satisfyingly eccentric, kind, and surprisingly humble for a writer who’d seen the top of the New York Times Bestseller List as many times as he had and had sold more than 30 million books in a dozen languages. Jim and his wife Harriet were also extraordinarily generous of their time and considerable wealth within Charleston’s neediest quarters. He’ll be missed by many — not just as an author of profound international influence but as a human being and friend. Best wishes, Jim. Here’s looking forward to your appearance in the Wheel’s next turn.
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[...] Nick Smith: Jordan was an integral part of Charleston’s literary scene, instantly recognizable with his beard, hat and glasses. But he also valued his privacy, especially since the diagnosis of his progressive blood disorder in late 2005. [...]